Thomas T.M. Palstra(Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen)

It is well-known that the surface plays an important role in the spin
Seebeck effect (SSE) [1]. However the effect of mechanical treatment on the
SSE has not been systematically studied yet. Here, we have investigated the
influence of the interface quality on the SSE in a bilayer system of
platinum and yttrium iron garnet (Pt/YIG). The surfaces of the YIG crystals
are modified by different types of mechanical polishing before Pt deposition
for different samples. We observed that the magnitude and magnetic field
dependence of the SSE is strongly influenced by mechanical treatment of the
YIG surface. No definite relation has been found between the SSE response
and the sample roughness. However, we observe a direct correlation between
the saturation magnetic field (H$_{sat})$ of the SSE and the roughness of
sample, as the former increases by moving from soft toward coarse particle
polishing. The change in the magnitude of H$_{sat}$ can be attributed to the
presence of a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy due to the treatment induced
surface strain or shape anisotropy in the Pt/YIG system [2].
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[1] G. E. W. Bauer, \textit{et al}., Nature Mater. \textbf{11}, 391, (2012).\\[0pt]
[2] A. Aqeel \textit{et al}., J. Appl. Phys. \textbf{116}, 153705, (2014).

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2015.MAR.B28.9